Track for sliding sash



14, 1931, 25, BEIGER 1,814,503

' TRACK FOR SLIDING SASH Filed April 22, 1929 INVENTOR FRED S. 85/65,?

A T TORNEYS Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRED S. BEIGER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE EUS'IIS SPECIAL'I'Y 00., 015 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA TRACK FOR SLIDING SASH Application filed April 22,

This invention relates to a track or support for sliding sash or similar closures. It may be considered as an improvement over the construction disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,685,535, issued September 25, 1928, to me and Robert I. Eustis.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved track or support for sliding closures having a pair of opposed channels between the edges of which balls are disposed. The improvement resides in the new, construction of the cage confining and separating the balls. In the improved construction the cage is formed of a single piece of sheet metal bent into a rectangular tube between the spaced sides of which the balls are arranged with the balls partially projecting through the apertures in the sides of the cage. The improved construction) is such that the balls are confined in the cage by the sides of the cage without the necessity of having special fingers formed on the sides to keep the balls confined.

Another advantage of the improved construction is that the cage presents a neat and attractive appearance and is much stifl'er than the construction disclosed in the prior patent. The additional stiffness present makes the improved construction advantageous in handling as it cannot be easily bent or injured. v 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a bearing or support for sliding sash and the like in which there is a cage confining a lurality of balls and to provide a clearance tween the cage and the balls so that the balls will run or roll freely. The clearance is such that it is more pronounced vertically than horizontally and this arrangement is to allow the balls to rise or fall in their respective apertures due to any slopes or low places in the channels.

With the foregoing andother objects in' view which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to, the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the 'invention wherein: 2 i

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation, parts be- 1929. Serial No. 357,145.

ing broken away and shown in vertical sec- 7 10 and 11. The lower channel 10 beingmounted on any suitable stationary structure indicated at 12 and the upper or movable. channel 11 serving to support a sash or similar closure indicated at 13. A channel 14 which is fastened back to back to the up er channel 11 serves to enclose the bottom'e go of the sash 13. Between the opposededges 01 the channels 10 and 11a plurality of balls 15 are disposed. These ballsroll on the lower channellO and the upperch'annel 11 rolls on the balls thus forming a smooth anti-friction bearing supporting the sash 13 for horizontal movement.

The improvement resides in the construction of the cage. The cage is formed of a single piece of sheet metal bent into the form of a rectangular tube having opposed parallel sides 16 and 17 joined by a top 18. The bottom edges of the sides 16 and 17 are bent inwardly toward each other as indicated at 19 and 20 forming the bottom of the cage. In the opposed sides there are formed aligned apertures, two of such apertures being indicated at 21 and 22. The edges of the apertures 21 and 22 are beveled as clearly shown in F ig. 4 so that thesides'of eachaperture converge outwardly. The balls are disposed in the apertures and project partially through them with the portions which project through the sides being engaged by the edges of the channels 10 and 11. As clearly shown upon the drawings there is a material clearance between the balls and the sides of their respective apertures. This clearance is more pronounced in a vertical direction'than horizontal as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The purpose of having this clearance so arranged is that in the event there are low places or sags in-the bottom channel 10 the balls can rise and fall in their respective apertures, accommodating themselves to the bottom channel 10 without binding or tending to bend the cage. At the same time, however, the cage serves to confine the balls and to keep them properly spaced from each other.

It will be appreciated that the improved cage presents a neat and attractive appearance and that there are no projecting tingers confining the balls which are apt to become caught and dama ed during the handling. Furthermore, tfie tubular construction of the cage is such that the cage is quite st-ifi, acting somewhat like a truss so that during handling the cage will not bend easily especially across the apertures Where the cage is weakened.

From the above described construction it will be appreciated that an improved form of track and bearing for sliding sash or similar closures is provided having several important advantages over the construction disclosed in the prior patent.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A support for sliding closures having a bearing comprising a plurality of balls,'a cage for the balls having apertures in which the balls are disposed, there being a material clearance between the sides of the apertures and the balls, which is more pronounced vertically then horizontally.

2. A support for sliding closures having a bearing comprising a plurality of balls and a tubular cage for the balls having apertures in its sides through which the balls project.

3. A support for sliding closures having a bearing comprising a plurality of balls. and i a cage for the balls comprising a strip of sheet metal bent rectangular in cross section, there being aligned apertures in the opposite sides of the cage through which the balls partially project.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRED S. BEIGER. 

